Switch-housing structure



July 7, 1925.

W. M. SCOTT SWITCH HOUSING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aux. 50, 1921 July 7, 1925.-

W. M. SCOTT SWITCH HOUS ING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Auz. 30, 1921 mi y. 69m

' A TTORNE Y Patented uly 7, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. SCQTT, OF TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-HOUSING STRUCTURE.

Application filed August 30, 1921. Serial No. 496,816. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. Soon, a cltizen of the United States, residing in T redyflrin Township, in the countyof Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Switch-Housing Structure, of which the following is'a specification.

My invention relates to structure for mounting and housing electric switches, automatic circuit breakers, and the like.

In accordance with my invention, there is provided a supporting housing by which is supported, in hinged or pivotal relation thereto, a base, carrying switch or automatic circuit breaking mechanism, with a second housing enclosing the switching or circuit breaking mechanism, the latter preferably provided with a hinged wall or door upon which is mounted movable structure for actuating or controlling the switching or circuit breaking mechanism.

My invention resides in the features of construction and combinationhereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of some of the various forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention,

ig. 2 is" a front elevational View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustratin detachable hinge structure of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of a modified form of my apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational View of the same.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side view of a further form of my apparatus. a

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1s a housing or box of any suitable material, preferably sheet or cast'met'al, which, in the eX ample illustrated, serves as a supportlng housing, and is itself preferably secured to any suitable support, as a wall, pillar or the like, by any suitable attaching means, as screws 1, 1. Communicating with the 11 terior of the housing A is a pipe or. conduit 2 through wh ch extend the supply circrut conductors 3, which extend into the interior of the housing A and connect with terminals 4 adapted to be connected to the hereinafter described circuit breaker studs. A second conduit 5 communicates with the intei'ior of the housing A and through it extend the consumption circuit conductors 6, which extend into the housing A and connect with terminals adapted for connection to the circuit'breaker studs hereinafter referred to.

8 is a base, preferably of insulating material, such as slate, upon the front faceof which is mounted switching mechanism, circuit breaker mechanism, or the like. In the example illustrated, and preferably,-

there is employed automatic circuit breaker mechanism, which in the example illustrated comprises two breaker or switching mechanisms, constituting soecalled double arm circuit breaker mechanism such, for example, as shown in Letters Patent No.-1,389,996, or N 0. 1,480,306. In this connection it shall be understood that my invention is not limited in these respects, since the number of poles or arms/of the circuit breaker or switching mechanism may be anything suitable or desirable. Y

These breaker arms are indicated at B and C, Fig. 2, the breaker mechanism B being shown in Fig. 1 in side elevation.

Each breaker arm comprises an upper main terminal 9 carried by the base 8 and having a stud 10 extending through the base and projecting into the housing A, the aforesaid terminal 4 being secured upon the stud 10 and therefore electrically connecting therewith. Co-acting with the terminal 9 is the movable contact member 11 co-acting with the lower terminal 12 disposed below the terminal 9 and with which connects one terminal of the electromagnet coil 13, whose other terminal connects with the stud 14 extending through the base 8 and projecting into the housing A, where the terminal 7 is secured upon the stud 14 and electrically connected therewith. The movable contact member llis operated by toggle mechanism 15 havingthe member 16 through which the toggle is actuated. The breaker is latched or restrained innormal position, as well un-.

. the supporting housing A, Fig. 1 indicating the base 8 and housing D swung away from the housing A. When the base 8 is vertical it closes the housing A, and forms in effect a wall ,common to both housings A and D. The base and the parts carried thereby may be secured in the last mentioned position, as by screws 20 extending through the base 8 and threading into suitable clips 21 secured within the housing A.

Hinged or.pivoted to the housing D at 22 is the door or movable wall E, which is adapted to be retained in closed position by the spring catch 23 secured uponthe interior of the housing D and extending through an aperture 24 in the door E.

Secured upon the door E and disposed upon the inside thereof is the bracket member 25, in which is carried the rod orshaft 26 upon which is secured the rotatable member 27, which is operable in opposite directions by the handle 28 for engaging the aforesaid members 16, 16 in succession for resetting the breaker arms B and C in suc-' cesslon.

The shaft 26 is also movable longitudinally inward, by pressure upon the button 29, to actuate the member 30 pivoted upon the bracket 25 and adapted to engage. the restraining means of the circuit breaker,

whereby the same may be manually tripped. Operating and tripping mechanism of the character described is illustrated in my Letters Patent No. 1,515,7 59,' it being under'- stood, however, that my lnvention is not limited inthis respect.

While in Fig. 1 the base 8 and housing D are pivoted or hinged on a horizontal axis upon the housing A, it will be understood that the hinge structure may be such that the base 8 swings upon hinges whose pivotal axes are vertical.

Such an arrangement is indicated inFigs. 4, 5 and 6, wherein the housing D is hinged to the housing A at 31. While the door or movable wall E may be pivoted to the housing D on horizontal hinges as in Fig. 1, in the example illustrated it is pivoted to the housing D on the vertical hinges 32.

In Fig. 7, as in my Letters Patent No. 1,- 389,996, the housing D is secured to the base 8, and the base 8 is secured to the supporting housing A. There are secured to the base 8 the hook hinge members 33 received in suitable apertures or slots in the bottom of the housing D, which is placed upon the hook hinges 33 while in an inclined position, indicated in dotted lines, and then moved to final position against the base 8, as shown in full lines, and there secured by the screw 34 threaded into the sleeve 35 secured to the post 36, which is in turn secured upon the base 8. i

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a fixed housing, of a base member hinged thereon, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed andmovable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, and conductors extending from the exterior into said housing and connecting with said connecting means.

2. The combination with a supporting housing, of means for securing the same to a support, a base of insulating material,

switching mechanism comprising co-oper'ating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried upon one side of said base, means hinging said base to said supporting housing for supporting said base upon said housing,

connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base into said housing, and conductors extending from the exterior into said housing and connecting with said connecting means.

3. The combination with ahousing, of a base of insulating material,"means detachably hinging said base upon said housing,- switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base, and connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base into said housing.

4. The combination with a base, of a housing, and means detachably securing said base and housing to each other comprising hook members secured in fixed relation with respectfco one of them and detachably engaging the other, and switching mechanlsm comprlsing co operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base.

5. The combination with a plurality of housings, of a base of insulating material forming a wall common to them, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relasaid housing and connecting with said con necting means, and a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism and forming a unit with said base.

7. The combination with a housing, of a base member hinged thereon, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, conductors extending from the exterior into said housing and connecting with saidconnecting means, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism and forming a unit with said base, and controlling means detached from said switching mechanism carried within a wall of said second housing and operable from the exterior thereof.

8. The combination with a housing, of a base member hinged thereon, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, conductors extending from the exterior into said housing and connecting with said connecting means, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism, and a pivoted door for said second housing.

9. The combination with a housing, of a base member hinged thereon, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base vmember into said housing, con ductors extending from the exterior into said housing and connecting with said connecting means, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a pivoted door for said second housing, and switch controlling means carried bysaid door and op-' erable from the exterior for controlling said switching mechanism. I

10. The combination with a plurality of housings, of abase of insulating material forming a wall common thereto and movable as a unit with one of said housings, said base and said one of said houslngs hinged to another of said housings, switch 'ing mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts within said one of saidhousings ,carried upon said base, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base into said other of said housings, and conductors extending from the exterior into said other of said housings and connecting with saidconnecting means.

11. The combination with a housing, of a,

base member carried thereby, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, and a second housing enclosingv said switching mechanism hinged to said first named housing.

12. The combination with a housing, of a base member carried thereby, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism hinged to said first named housing, means for securing said base member to said first named housing, and means securing said second housing to said base member.

13. The combination with a housing, of a base member carried thereby and forming a wall thereof, switching mechanism compris ing co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing nd a second housing enclosing said sv. ..ching mechanism and pivoted to said first name-d housing at an edge thereof adjacent said base member.

14. The combination with a housing, of a base member, switchingmechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, 1

connecting means extending from saidswitching mechanism through, said base member into said housing, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism and attached to said base to form a unit therewith, and means pivoting said unit to said first named housing.

15. The combination with a housing,of a base member, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism and attached to said base to form a unit therewith, means pivoting said unit to saidfirst named housing, said second housing having a piv= oted wall, and control mechanism for said switching mechanism carried by said; wall in detached relation to said switching mechanism. r

16. The combination with a housing, of a base member, switching mechanism comprising co-operating relatively fixed and movable contacts carried by said base member, connecting means extending from said switching mechanism through said base member into said housing, a second housing enclosing said switching mechanism and attached to said base to form a unit therewith,

means pivoting said unit to said first named housing, and means for securing said unit to salid first named housing.

17. The combination with a support, of conductors mounted adjacent thereto, a switch box pivotally connected to said support, switching mechanism comprising co; operating relatively fixed and movable contacts mounted in and movable with said box, and conductors extending from said mecha- T nism and adapted to be connected with said first named conductors.

18. Thecombination with a support, of conductors mounted adjacent thereto, a base pivotally mounted on said support, switchin mechanism comprising co-operating re atively'fixed and movable contacts carried by said base and having terminals adapted to be connected to said conductors,

a housing for said mechanism movable therewith and with said base, and a switchof a base member pivoted thereon, an automat1c clrcu t breaker comprismg co-operating relatively movable contact structures,

ber into said housing, conductors extending from ,the exterior into said housing and detachably connecting with said connectors, and a second housing enclosing said circuit breaker and movable with said base memb r.

21. The combination with a fixed housi g,

of a base member pivoted thereon, an automatic-circuit breaker comprislng co-operatmg relatively movable contact structures,

means for restraining them in normal position, and automatic tripping mechanism, carried by'and movable as a unit With said base, member, connectors extending from said circuit breaker through said base member into said housing, conductors extending from the exterior into said housing and detachably'connecting with said connectors, a second housing enclosing said circuit breaker and movable with said base member, said second housing having a movable wall, and means operable from the exterior oft said second housing carried by said movable wall in detached relation to said movable contact structure for re-setting said circuit breaker.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 29th day of August,

' WILLIAM M. SCOTT. 

